Bronze Star recipient Stacy Bare to lead efforts
to connect America with the outdoors

San Francisco, CA (July 16, 2012) –
Today the Sierra Club announces Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Stacy Bare as
the new director of Mission Outdoors, the Sierra Club’s initiative to connect people
with the wonders of the outdoors. Bare first joined the Sierra Club Mission
Outdoors team to expand the Military Families and Veterans Initiative, a
program within Mission Outdoors that ensures opportunities for those who served
our country and their families to experience the freedom of the land they
defended. With this promotion, Bare will lead the Sierra Club’s effort to
connect all people with the outdoors through direct programming, public
education and advocacy.

Mission
Outdoors combats the growing divide between Americans and the outdoors by
increasing opportunities for all; in addition to veterans and military
families, this includes urban youth who otherwise may never experience the joy
and wonder of exploring the natural world. Together, these programs engage more than 250,000
people in outdoor experiences each year and train thousands of volunteer
leaders across all 50 states and U.S. territories.

“Stacy’s
outstanding contributions to the Sierra Club's military program helped us
create opportunities to connect with nature available to the men and women who
risk their lives to defend our country – and our wild places,” said Sierra Club
Executive Director Michael Brune.
“Now, in his new role as Director of Mission Outdoors, Stacy will play a
critical role in expanding the conservation movement and supporting the Sierra
Club's mission of ‘explore, enjoy and protect.' As with all the work he has
done for the organization, Stacy will bring fresh energy and passion to Mission
Outdoors to ensure that everyone across the country has access to meaningful
outdoor experiences.”

Bare received the Bronze Star for
meritorious service in Baghdad as a Captain in the US Army. After his service
he completed his Masters in City Planning and Urban Design at the University of
Pennsylvania. During that time he
struggled with severe symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Bare credits
his turnaround to rock climbing – it was climbing and time spent outside that
allowed him to rebuild his life.

“Life experience has left
me believing in the healing power of time spent in nature,” said Director of Mission OutdoorsStacy Bare. “Access to our nation’s outdoor
spaces and wild places – around the corner and across the country – ought not to
be exclusive. I look forward to leading the Sierra Club’s Mission
Outdoors program and ensuring that access to nature is available to anyone who wants and needs it. ”

Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential
grassroots environmental organization. Inspired by nature, we are 1.4 million
of your friends and neighbors, working together to protect our communities and
the planet. Read more at http://www.sierraclub.org

About Mission Outdoors

Through
direct programming, public education and advocacy, Sierra Club’s Mission
Outdoors program combats the growing divide between America and the outdoors by
increasing opportunities for all to improve their overall well-being by
exploring and enjoying the natural world. Mission Outdoors is comprised of four
programs, Building Bridges to the Outdoors, Local Outings, Inner City Outings
and Military Families and Veterans Initiative.
Read more at http://www.sierraclub.org/missionoutdoors.